Perimeter lighting apparatus

This application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 60/307,820 to Sloan et al., which was filed on Jul. 25, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to perimeter or border lighting for buildings and more particularly to perimeter or border lighting using light emitting diodes as the light source.

2. Description of the Related Art

Perimeter or border lights (“perimeter lighting”) are commonly used on buildings to accentuate the structure, to draw customer attention to the building, and to provide safety lighting. Most conventional perimeter lights use neon bulbs for the light source. Some of the disadvantages of neon lighting is that neon bulbs have a relatively short life, are fragile and can consume a relatively large amount of power. Also, neon bulbs can experience difficulty with cold starting, which can lead to the bulb's failure.

Developments in Light emitting diodes (“LEDs”) have resulted in devices that are brighter, more efficient and more reliable. LEDs are now being used in many different applications that were previously the realm of incandescent bulbs; some of these include displays, automobile taillights and traffic signals. As the efficiency of LEDs improve it is expected that they will be used in most lighting applications.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,818 to Scheib discloses a lighting strip that utilizes LEDs as the light source. The strip is flexible in three dimensions and is useful in forming characters and is capable of providing uniform illumination regardless of the characters selected for display. The strip comprises a flexible multi-layered pressure sensitive adhesive tape, having a plurality of triangle cutout sections on each side of the tape, with LEDs connected in a series with a resister. One disadvantage of this strip is that it cannot be cut to different lengths for different applications. Instead, different lengths of the strip must be used. Further, the light from the LEDs is not diffused to give the appearance of neon light. This arrangement is not durable enough to withstand the conditions for outdoor use. The flexible tape and its adhesive can easily deteriorate when continually exposed to the elements.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,559,681 to Duarte, discloses a flexible, self adhesive, light emissive material, that can be cut into at least two pieces. The light emissive material includes a plurality of light electrically coupled light emissive devices such as light emitting diodes. The material also includes electric conductors for conducting electric power from the source of electric power to each of the light emissive devices. While this lighting arrangement is cuttable to different lengths, the light it emits is not dispersed so that it resembles neon light. This arrangement is also not durable enough to withstand the conditions for outdoor use.

LEDs have been used in perimeter lighting applications. PCT International Application Number PCT/AU98/00602 discloses perimeter light that uses LEDs as its light source and includes a light tube structure in which multiple LEDs are arranged within an elongated translucent tube that diffuses or disperses the light from the LEDs. The perimeter light is used to highlight or decorate one or more features of a structure, such as a roof edge, window, door or corner between a wall or roof section.

One of the disadvantages of this light is that it cannot be cut to match the length of a building's structural features. Instead, the perimeter lighting must be custom ordered or it is mounted without fully covering the structural feature. Also, the connectors between adjacent sections of lighting are bulky and result in a visible junction between the sections. In addition, the light's tube significantly attenuates the light emitted by its LEDs, significantly reducing the light's brightness. Further, the light does not include a mechanism for compensating for the expansion and contraction between adjacent lights.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an improved elongated perimeter light that uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) as its light source to take advantage of their improved efficiency and longevity. The perimeter light can be connected in series with other perimeter lights, with each of the lights capable of being cut in the field to match the length of the structural feature.

One embodiment of an elongated perimeter light comprises a linear array of light sources (LEDs) that are electrically illuminated. The array of light sources is disposed within an elongated transparent tube, with the tube transmitting and dispersing the light from the array giving the appearance that the array of light sources is a continuous light source. The array of light sources is capable of being cut at intervals down its length to shorten it. The remaining light sources in said array continue to emit light and the tube can be cut to match the length of said array.

The present invention also discloses systems for lighting structural features, with one system according to the present invention comprising a plurality of elongated perimeter lights similar to those described in the previous paragraph. The perimeter lights are electrically coupled in a daisy chain with the electrical power at each of the. perimeter lights being transmitted to the successive light. A mechanism is included for anchoring the plurality of perimeter lights to a structure to illuminate it.

The tube of each perimeter light disperses the light from the light source array without over attenuating it, so that perimeter light provides bright light that simulates the look of straight tube neon. By being cuttable at intervals, custom sized lighting devices do not need to be ordered, reducing the lead-time and expense associated with installing perimeter lighting.

The new perimeter light also provides a new mounting device that includes a mounting button and screw. The buttons are mounted to the structural feature along the line for the new perimeter lighting, preferably using the screws. The back of the new perimeter light is designed to fit over the buttons by either sliding the tube along the button or snapping the tube in place on the button.

The new perimeter light also provides bumpers that fit on the open ends of each tube. The bumpers of adjacent perimeter lights rest adjacent to one another so that they can compensate for the expansion and contraction of the tubes during temperature change. They are also designed to glow and illuminate at the color of the perimeter light. Covers can be used over the junction between adjacent lights, with the covers preferably made of the same material as the tube. The combination of illumining bumpers with the cover section allows the junction to emit light similar to the perimeter light.

The new perimeter light is rugged, energy efficient and easy to install. It is 30 to 70% more efficient than neon lighting and the LEDs can last more than 5 times longer than neon bulbs. It can easily be installed as a replacement to conventional neon lighting.

These and other further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the new perimeter light according to the present invention;

FIG. 2<i>a </i>is a plan view of one embodiment of a PCB LED linear array according to the present invention;

FIG. 2<i>b </i>is an elevation view of the PCB LED linear array shown in FIG. 2<i>b; </i>

FIG. 3 is a schematic of one embodiment of the electronic elements in a PCB LED linear array according to the present invention;

FIG. 4<i>a </i>is an elevation view of one embodiment of a mounting button according to the present invention;

FIG. 4<i>b </i>is a plan view of the embodiment of the mounting button in FIG. 4<i>a; </i>

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the tube shown from the perimeter light shown in FIG. 1, taken along section lines <b>5</b>—<b>5</b>;

FIG. 6<i>a </i>is a front elevation view of a one embodiment of an end bumper according to the present invention;

FIG. 6<i>b </i>is a sectional view of the end bumper shown in FIG. 6<i>a</i>, taken along section lines <b>6</b><i>b</i>—<b>6</b><i>b; </i>

FIG. 7<i>a </i>is a perspective view of another embodiment of an end bumper according to the present invention;

FIG. 7<i>b </i>is a perspective sectional view of the end bumper in FIG. 7<i>a</i>, taken along section lines <b>7</b><i>b</i>—<b>7</b><i>b. </i>

FIG. 8<i>a </i>is a perspective view of another embodiment of an end bumper according to the present invention;

FIG. 8<i>b </i>is a sectional view of the end bumper in FIG. 8<i>a</i>, taken along section lines <b>8</b><i>b</i>—<b>8</b><i>b; </i>

FIG. 9<i>a </i>is a perspective view of another embodiment of an end bumper according to the present invention;

FIG. 9<i>b </i>is sectional view of the end bumper in FIG. 9<i>a</i>, taken along section lines <b>9</b><i>a</i>—<b>9</b><i>a; </i>

FIG. 10<i>a </i>as an elevation view of one embodiment of a bumper cover according to the present invention;

FIG. 10<i>b </i>is a sectional view of the bumper cover of FIG. 10<i>a</i>, according to the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a corner cover according to the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a corner cover according to the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a corner cover according to the present invention; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of building's structural feature with one embodiment of the perimeter lighting according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a perimeter light <b>10</b> constructed in accordance with the present invention. It includes an elongated tube <b>12</b> that has a substantially oval shaped cross-section, and houses a PCB with LEDs in a linear array (shown in FIG. 2<i>a </i>and <b>2</b><i>b</i>). The tube material should be impact resistant and UV stable with one of the preferred materials being acrylic. To provide the maximum light emission from the LEDs, the tube should have filter characteristics that transmit primarily the wavelength of light emitted from the LED array, while having the opacity to diffuse but not over-attenuate the emitting light.

The perimeter light <b>10</b> has a male connector <b>14</b> at its first end and a female connector <b>16</b> at its second end, both arranged so that multiple lights <b>10</b> can be electrically connected in series. Other embodiments can have the connector types reversed or can use different connectors. This allows multiple lights <b>10</b> to be connected along a long or high structural feature and then illuminated from a single power source (shown in FIG. <b>3</b>). In one embodiment, the power source is connected to the male connector <b>14</b> of the first light <b>10</b> to illuminate the light. The power from the power source is conducted to the second light <b>10</b> in the series through the connected female <b>16</b> to male connectors <b>16</b>, <b>14</b> between the first and second lights. The power is conducted to subsequent lights <b>10</b> in the series in the same way.

End bumpers <b>18</b> are included to provide a protective seal at the ends of the tube <b>12</b> to protect the light's internal components. When one or more perimeter lights <b>10</b> are linearly connected, the end bumpers <b>18</b> are included to compensate for expansion and contraction of the lights <b>10</b> from heat of the LEDs or from the ambient temperature. The bumpers <b>18</b> also compensate for the different expansions between the tube <b>12</b> and internal LED array PCB. If for instance the LED array PCB expands more than the tube for a given temperature, the array PCB can extent from the end of the tube. The bumper <b>18</b> should compensate for this expansion while not being forced from the end of the tube <b>12</b>.

As more fully described below, different embodiments of bumpers can be used. The preferred bumpers <b>18</b> are at least partially transparent to glow and illuminate at the color of the perimeter light or at the color of the light's internal light source. This allows multiple connected perimeter lights <b>10</b> to appear as one continuous light.

FIGS. 2<i>a </i>and <b>2</b><i>b </i>show the LED array PCB <b>20</b> that is arranged inside the tube <b>12</b>, with the light from the LEDs directed primarily through the top curved section of the tube <b>12</b>. The LED array <b>20</b> comprises a PCB <b>22</b> having LEDs <b>24</b> that are mounted on the PCB by conventional methods. The LEDs <b>24</b> are preferable arranged on one side of the PCB, linearly down the PCB's longitudinal axis, although the LEDs could be arranged in different locations. In one embodiment of the LED array, there are <b>60</b> LEDs every <b>24</b> inches of PCB. The LED array <b>20</b> also has additional electronic devices <b>26</b> that can include capacitors, diodes and resistors, as more fully described below.

The preferred LED array <b>20</b> uses LEDs <b>24</b> at a very close pitch. In one embodiment the LEDs <b>24</b> are approximately 0.4 inches apart as measured from the LED centers. The LED array <b>20</b> is held within the tube, approximately 1 inch from the top of the curved section of the tube <b>12</b> shown in FIG. <b>1</b>. The tube is formulated to allow the maximum amount of light to be transmitted, while at the same time diffusing the light enough to prevent bright and dark spots when the light emits from the tube <b>12</b>.

FIG. 3 is a schematic <b>30</b> of the LED array <b>20</b> of FIG. 2<i>a </i>and <b>2</b><i>b</i>, showing its electronic components and their interconnections. A power supply <b>31</b> provides power to the LED array <b>30</b>. The array <b>30</b> can operate from many different power supplies with a preferred power supply providing 24-volt (V) AC power. In one embodiment a step down transformer (not shown) is used to reduce the typical 120V AC power. The 24V AC power can be connected to LED array <b>30</b> along two 20 AWG wires <b>31</b><i>a</i>, <b>31</b><i>b</i>. The 24V AC power is then applied to a diode bridge rectifier <b>32</b>, which full wave rectifies the AC signal. A capacitor <b>33</b> is included to smooth the rectified signal to an approximate 24V DC. The DC power is then applied to a sub-array of 8 LEDs <b>34</b><i>a </i>that are arranged in series with a current limiting resister <b>35</b><i>a. </i>

The LED array <b>30</b> can include additional parallel LED sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>b-h</i>, with each having the same or a different number of LEDs as array <b>34</b><i>a</i>. Each of the sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>b-h </i>is arranged in parallel to the first sub-array <b>34</b><i>a </i>with the DC power applied across each of the sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>a-h</i>. The preferred LED array <b>30</b> has eight total parallel LED sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>a-h </i>with the first seven sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>a-g </i>having 8 LEDs and the last sub-array <b>34</b><i>h </i>having 4 LEDs. Each of the LED circuits has a respective current limiting resistor <b>35</b><i>a-h. </i>

The LED array <b>30</b> transfers the 24V AC power from the one end to the other along conductors <b>36</b> and <b>37</b>, which are connected to an LED array output <b>38</b>. This allows a plurality of light emitting devices to be “daisy chained” together by connecting the output connector from the first perimeter light to the input connector on the next perimeter light and so on. A conventional step down transformer (not shown) can provide a 24V AC power supply to power up to 100 feet of daisy chained perimeter lights. Other transformers can power greater lengths of lights and the use of different electronic components can increase or decrease the length of lighting that can be powered.

As mentioned above, one of the advantages of the new perimeter light <b>10</b> is that it can be cut to match the length of a particular structural feature. The conductors <b>37</b> and <b>38</b> pass through the LED array <b>39</b>, independent of the power applied to the sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>a-h </i>so that one or more of the sub-arrays can be cut-away without cutting the conductors <b>37</b>, <b>38</b>. One of the intermediate lights <b>10</b> in a daisy chain can be cut to match a structural feature while still allowing the light to be daisy-chained with additional lights. This provides the ability to mount the new perimeter lights on various structural features without having to special order lengths of lights to match the length of the structural feature.

The new light <b>10</b> is shortened by cutting one or more of the parallel LED sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>a-h </i>away from the LED array <b>30</b>, and cutting off the corresponding length of tube <b>12</b>. One embodiment of the LED array PCB <b>20</b> (as shown in FIGS. 2<i>a </i>and <b>2</b><i>b</i>) is marked along its length in the locations where it can be cut. The cutting locations correspond to the connections between the parallel LED sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>a-h</i>. For instance, one of the marks corresponds to the location between LED sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>b </i>and <b>34</b><i>c </i>so that cutting at the mark would remove parallel LED sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>c-h</i>, leaving sub-arrays <b>34</b><i>a </i>and <b>34</b><i>b. </i>

FIGS. 4<i>a </i>and <b>4</b><i>b </i>show one embodiment of a mounting button <b>40</b> according to the present invention, which is used to mount the new perimeter light <b>10</b> to a structural feature. The new button <b>40</b> can have many different dimensions with the embodiment shown having a cylindrical base section <b>42</b> that is approximately 0.25 inches high and has a radius of approximately 0.8 inches. Above the base section is the lip section <b>44</b> that is also cylindrical and is coaxial with the base section, but has a diameter of approximately 0.5 inches. Above the lip section <b>44</b> is the tab section <b>46</b> that is coaxial with the base and lip sections <b>42</b>, <b>44</b> and has a diameter of approximately 0.6 inches. The tab section <b>46</b> tapers away from the lip section <b>44</b> toward its top. The entire button has a coaxial cavity <b>48</b> for a screw to pass through, with the top part of the cavity <b>48</b> having a larger diameter to house a screw head. Three equally spaced vertical cuts <b>49</b> are included through the lip and tab sections <b>42</b> and <b>44</b> so that the three sections can flex toward the button's axis. As described below, this flex works with the features on the back of the tube <b>12</b> to mount the perimeter light <b>10</b> to the button <b>40</b>.

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of the tube <b>12</b> shown in FIG. 1, which has a PCB slot <b>52</b> for holding the LED array <b>20</b> in a horizontal orientation with the light from the LEDs directed primarily toward the top <b>53</b> of the tube <b>12</b>. A horizontal section <b>54</b> provides the lower enclosing surface for the tube <b>12</b> to protect the LED array <b>20</b>. The section <b>54</b> is parallel to the LED array <b>20</b> and when the array is installed in the slot <b>52</b>, a space <b>57</b> remains between the bottom of the array <b>20</b> and the horizontal section <b>54</b> that promotes dissipation of heat from the array's LEDs <b>24</b> and electronic components <b>26</b>. This helps the light <b>10</b> operate without overheating.

When the LED array PCB <b>20</b> is installed, there is approximately one inch between the LEDs <b>24</b> and the top <b>53</b> of the tube <b>50</b>. The thickness of the tube <b>12</b> can vary with a suitable thickness being approximately 0.85 inches. The tube <b>12</b> can be made from many materials with one of the preferred materials being acrylic. The tube can be fabricated to illuminate at various colors and dissipate the emitting light to reduce bright and dark spots.

Below the horizontal section <b>54</b>, the tube <b>12</b> has two opposing tabs <b>55</b>, <b>56</b> are provided that run the longitudinal length of the tube/lens to form a slot under the horizontal section <b>54</b>. Each tab <b>55</b>, <b>56</b> tapers toward the other and at the bottom of each tab there are opposing horizontal sections <b>58</b>, <b>59</b> with an opening between the edges of the two. The slot formed by the member <b>54</b> and opposing tabs <b>55</b>, <b>56</b> houses the new mounting button <b>40</b> (shown in FIGS. 4<i>a </i>and <b>4</b><i>b</i>) when mounting the light <b>10</b> to a structural feature.

The buttons <b>40</b> are mounted along a line of the structural feature where the light(s) <b>40</b> are to be mounted. A preferred mounting method is by a screw passing through the bottom cavity <b>48</b> and turning into the structural feature. As the screw is tightened, the screw head is housed in the larger diameter section of the button cavity <b>48</b>. After the mounting the button <b>40</b>, the light <b>10</b> can either slide onto the buttons or snap over them. When the light <b>10</b> is slid on, one of the tube's ends is held so that the tube's horizontal tab sections <b>58</b>, <b>59</b> mate with the button's lip section <b>44</b>. The tube <b>12</b> is slid onto the button so that the tab section <b>46</b> is disposed within the tube's slot.

When snapping the light <b>10</b> in place, it is held over the buttons <b>40</b> with the top of the buttons tab section <b>46</b> within or adjacent to the opening between the horizontal sections <b>58</b> and <b>59</b>. A force is applied to the light <b>10</b> in the direction of the button <b>40</b>, moving the opposing tabs <b>58</b>, <b>59</b> down the taper on the button's tab section <b>46</b>. This force causes the opposing tabs <b>55</b>, <b>56</b> to flex out as they slide down the button <b>40</b>, while the lip and tab sections <b>42</b> and <b>44</b> compress toward the button's longitudinal axis. This continues until the tab's horizontal sections <b>58</b>, <b>59</b> snap into the button's lip section <b>44</b> so that the button's tab section <b>46</b> is held within the tube's slot. The tube is held on the button <b>40</b> by the overlap between the tabs' horizontal sections <b>58</b>, <b>59</b> and the button's tab section <b>46</b>.

FIGS. 6<i>a </i>and <b>6</b><i>b </i>show one embodiment of the bumper <b>60</b> that can be mounted at the open ends of the tube <b>12</b>. The bumper <b>60</b> has a shape similar to the end of the tube <b>12</b> as shown in the FIG. <b>5</b>. The bumpers top surface <b>62</b> has a radius of curvature to match the curvature of the top <b>53</b> of the tube <b>12</b>. The bumper's bottom surface <b>63</b> is horizontal and matches the tube's horizontal section <b>54</b>.

The preferred bumper <b>60</b> is made of a flexible and durable material such as silicon, although other materials can also be used. It can be mounted to the end of the tube <b>12</b> by many methods, with the preferred method being gluing. The bumper <b>60</b> provides an air and water tight enclosure to protect the LED array PCB <b>20</b> and wiring within the tube <b>12</b>. The bumper <b>60</b> also compensates for the tube's expansion and contraction due to heating when the tubes are placed end-to-end in a series. As adjacent tubes expand, the bumpers <b>60</b> between them can compress, and when they contract the adjacent bumpers <b>60</b> can expand. The bumpers <b>60</b> can be colored to illuminate at the same color as the tube <b>12</b>. For a tube that is red to transmit a red color from the LEDs, the bumper <b>60</b> can be made of silicon rubber that is translucent red. Alternatively, the bumper <b>60</b> can transmit the light of the LEDs <b>24</b> without substantially changing the color. The color can then be changed to match the color of the tube, when it passes through a joint cover. When used with the cover described below, the bumpers <b>60</b> help give a continuous look to multiple sections of the new perimeter lights.

In another embodiment (not shown), a clear plate can be affixed over the end of the tube <b>12</b> before mounting the bumper <b>60</b>. The clear plate allows light from the LED array to transmit through to the bumper, while providing a larger surface for affixing the bumper <b>60</b> to the tube <b>12</b>.

FIGS. 7<i>a </i>and <b>7</b><i>b </i>show another embodiment of an end bumper <b>70</b> according to the present invention, which can be made of the same flexible and durable material as bumper <b>60</b>. Bumper <b>70</b> has a sleeve <b>72</b> in the shape of the cross-section of the tube <b>12</b>, so that the sleeve <b>72</b> can fit over the end of the tube <b>12</b>. The bumper <b>70</b> also includes a cushion section <b>74</b> that extends beyond the end of the tube <b>12</b> when the bumper <b>70</b> is mounted on the tube <b>12</b>. The cushion section <b>74</b> is compressible to compensate for expansion of adjacent lights <b>10</b> when heated and can thereafter expand when the lights contract. To allow cushion section <b>72</b> to compress more easily, it has an internal void <b>76</b>. Bumper <b>70</b> has an end surface which allows it to provide an air and watertight seal with the end of the tube <b>12</b>. The bumper <b>70</b> can be press fit over the end of the tube <b>12</b> or it can be glued in place.

FIGS. 8<i>a </i>and <b>8</b><i>b </i>show another embodiment of an end bumper <b>80</b> according to the present invention. It also has a shape similar to the tube's cross-section. However, it does not have a sleeve that fits over the end of the tube <b>12</b>, but instead has a horseshoe shaped section <b>82</b> that fits within the tube <b>12</b>. The curved portion of section <b>82</b> has a diameter that allows it to fit on the inside surface of the tubes top portion <b>53</b> (shown in FIG. 5) with a close fit. The bumper <b>70</b> can be affixed to the end of the tube <b>12</b> by different means such as gluing with the horseshoe section within the end of the tube <b>12</b>.

The bumper <b>80</b> has a cushion section <b>84</b> that extends beyond the end of the tube <b>12</b>, with the section <b>84</b> having an internal void <b>86</b> that allows it to be easily compressible. The bumper <b>80</b> also has two through holes <b>87</b>, <b>88</b>. When the bumper is mounted at the first and second ends of the perimeter light the holes at the first end allow lines <b>31</b><i>a</i>, <b>31</b><i>b </i>(see FIG. 3) to pass to the LED array PCB. The holes at the light's second end allow lines <b>36</b>, <b>37</b> (see FIG. 3) to pass from the LED array PCB. This allows power to pass to and from the light's internal LED array PCB.

Like the bumpers <b>60</b>, <b>70</b> above, bumper <b>80</b> has an end surface <b>89</b> that provides and an air and watertight seal at the end of the tube. The tube's horizontal section <b>54</b> along with the upper section <b>53</b> are affixed to the bumper <b>80</b> to provide a seal, with the holes <b>87</b>, <b>88</b> below the horizontal section.

FIGS. 9<i>a </i>and <b>9</b><i>b </i>show another embodiment of a bumper <b>90</b> according to the present invention that is the same in most respects to bumper <b>80</b>. It has a curved section <b>82</b>, and a cushion section <b>84</b> with a void <b>86</b>, with the void allowing the cushion section <b>84</b> to more easily compress. It is mounted to the end of a tube <b>12</b> in the same way as bumper <b>80</b> to provide a protective seal at the end of the tube. However, instead of having holes for conductors to pass, the bumper <b>90</b> has a single channel <b>92</b> through which both conductors pass.

FIGS. 10<i>a</i>, <b>10</b><i>b</i>, <b>11</b> and <b>12</b> show junction covers that are designed to fit over junctions between adjacent daisy-chained lights <b>10</b> with the different covers designed to fit over different angles between the lights. The junction covers are preferably made of the same material as the tubes <b>12</b> that they are covering so that the cover emits the same color of light as the tubes <b>12</b>. Each of the junction covers should transmit and disperse the light from the adjacent perimeter lights <b>10</b> and the bumpers <b>18</b> between the lights. By dispersing the light covers allow adjacent lights to appear as though there is no junction, so that multiple perimeter lights appear as though they are continuous.

FIGS. 10<i>a </i>and <b>10</b><i>b </i>show a junction cover <b>100</b> for covering the junction between two lights <b>10</b> that are linearly aligned. The inside surface of its cover's curved top section <b>102</b> has the same radius of curvature as the outside surface tube's top section <b>53</b> (shown in FIG. <b>5</b>). The cover's lower portions <b>104</b>, <b>105</b> taper to fit over the tapered section of the tube/lens's opposing tabs <b>55</b> and <b>56</b> (also shown in FIG. <b>5</b>). The cover <b>100</b> can be press fit over the junction by placing it on the adjacent perimeter lights and applying a force to the cover <b>100</b>, toward the perimeter lights. This causes the cover's lower portions <b>104</b>, <b>105</b> to flex out, allowing the cover to slide down until its curved section <b>102</b> rests against the tube's curved top <b>53</b> and the tapered lower portions <b>104</b>, <b>105</b> rest against the outside of the tube's opposing tabs <b>55</b>, <b>56</b>. Alternatively, the tubes can be slid into the junction cover <b>100</b>.

With the expansion and contraction of adjacent lights <b>10</b>, the cover <b>100</b> can move over the joint, which can result in the cover “walking off” the joint through repeated expansions and contractions. It is impractical to glue the cover over the joint because the lights would be prevented from moving under the joint through expansion and contraction. The cover <b>100</b> includes one or more holding rivets <b>109</b> to help hold the cover over the joint. Each rivet passes through a hole in one of the cover's lower portions <b>104</b>, <b>105</b> and extends into the joint between adjacent lights, under the end bumpers. As the lights expand and contract and the cover begins to walk off the joint, the rivet butts against the end of one of the tubes <b>12</b>.

The perimeter lights <b>10</b> can also be used at corners of a structural feature, with the end of adjacent lights <b>10</b> meeting at the angle. FIG. 11 shows a junction cover <b>110</b> for fitting over the junction between two lights <b>10</b> that meet at a 90-degree angle with the adjacent lights <b>10</b> being in the same plane. FIG. 12 shows a junction cover <b>120</b> that is also for fitting over adjacent lights that meet at a 90-degree angle with the inside surface of the angle being against a structural feature, for perimeter lighting around a corner. FIG. 13 shows a junction cover <b>130</b> also for fitting over the junction between a lights meeting at a 90degree angle with the emitting surface of the lights being on the inside of the angle. The junction covers can be press fit over the junction just as junction cover <b>100</b>. Although the covers <b>110</b>, <b>120</b> and <b>130</b> are for 90-degree angles, junction covers can be provided for lights <b>10</b> meeting at many different angles.

FIG. 14 shows one embodiment of the perimeter lights <b>10</b> as they are mounted to a structural feature <b>140</b>. Before mounting the lights, the mounting buttons must be affixed to the structural feature <b>140</b> at intervals along a line where the perimeter light is to be attached. The perimeter lights <b>10</b> can then be slid or snapped over the buttons to fix the lights in place. The lights <b>10</b> can also be cut to meet the length of the structural feature <b>140</b> as described above. After cutting, one of the end bumpers (not shown) should be mounted to the open end of the tube to protect the LED array and to provide cushioning between adjacent lights. More than one light <b>10</b> can be daisy chained to light a longer structural feature <b>142</b> with the joint between the lights covered by a joint cover (not shown). The perimeter lights <b>10</b> can also be mounted around a 90-degree corner <b>144</b> of the structural feature <b>140</b>, with the corner joint between the lights covered by joint cover <b>120</b>. The covers give the appearance of a continuous perimeter light along the feature <b>140</b>.

Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with reference to certain preferred configurations thereof, other versions are possible. Therefore, the spirit and scope of the invention should not be limited to their preferred versions described above.